Researching for my new addition to the family "zoo"

[reefs2forests]

cool!
well as soon as i find a place to put the tank in my house... i will get right on started with building everything up!!

this is so much fun!

[Fatal_S]

I love designing the tank and setup for my guys! It's one of the best parts of having them! I can't wait to build the new tanks, and then I can decorate them in many different ways!

[reefs2forests]

i know its the best part
also builds anticipation!

[LittleFoot]

Setting up the tank is fun, with BTS's you can be very creative and the sky'd the limit with how you decorate...there are a lot of threads and photo galleries with all the different ideas.

Also, read the caresheet it had tons and tons and tons of great information...once again welcome to the forums.

[Leigh]

Troll this site extensively, go look in the enclosures section, there are some exellent ones to blag an idea or two from, and as said caresheet and food chart are as important to you,as pictures are for us, good luck matey.

[reefs2forests]

i have been reading through the care sheet and there is soooooooooooo much information im trying to get through it....

i'll get there then put together a list of stuff

[Shadowfax]

Also, for upgrade tanks, keep an eye on sources like craigslist and aquarium stores, who often have cracked, leaky or secondhand tanks for sale cheap. That's where I got my 55 gal, which is plenty big for my adult UJ (he's 21.5 inches). I'd never buy a new tank for a reptile -- only if I need to be sure it didn't leak. ETA -- tanks are not hard to build either. Zach's built some gorgeous ones as have several other members.

[reefs2forests]

yea thats how i got my tank!
a fellow reefer had this tank and it has a crack at the top and so he was giving it away for free but then i bought the stand off of him also beautiful stand

i will prolly just look for a used tank
i am the master at buying second hand things

[Zach]

And just to mention, you don't need any night lighting/basking at all.

[reefs2forests]

oh ok thanks!
let me get a list together i think i got everything down...
please i encourage people to tear apart my list and add and remove things...

i would actually like that very much since i dont know exactly what im doing... BUt i have been reading the caresheet over and over again

[reefs2forests]

ok so substrates:
i like the idea of these but dont know the reality of the product

Fir & Sphagnum Moss Bedding
Jungle Earth Reptile Bedding
coconut fiber

Lighting:(how many bulbs do u reccomend- enough to cover the tank (like 2 or three) or just a basking lamp)
what do you guys use im kinda iffy on the light situation...
should i be looking for a "pure" UVB light or UVA- and then just another regular light for the other "cool" side

water: i was gonna have like a little pool area... can i have it just in the tank... or should i have it contained.. i can siphon the water regularly and change it out

then have a couple logs and something...

how deep should the substrate be

(oh are there any other necessities? )im prolly forgetting something big and stupid for forgetting!

[Shadowfax]

You just need a single basking lamp on one end, so skink has a hot end and cool in to choose from to regulate his temp. Substrate opinions differ -- I use aspen because it's cheap and readily accessible, as well as absorbent of odor and moisture. Many folks also like Carefresh. I use the coconut fiber type stuff for my crestie and find it too dusty for a skink and he never liked to burrow in it the one time I tried it, same with reptibark. I usually make sure my substrate is about 2" deep so he can burrow at will.

[reefs2forests]

oh and for food
i dont have to feed live food right?
shoud i feed live food... i have no problem with it just wondering since there are other and better sorces of protein
like eggs and chicken..

for worms... can you dig up your own.. or is that not a good idea cuz of potential pesticides

[herp boy]

You can feed them live bugs and mice but no you dont HALF to feed them live i give homer F/T pinkys

[reefs2forests]

i dont think i could feed my future BTS a mouse... they are just too cute... id end up setting up another cage for it haha...

i cant feed it anything alive that is fuzzy.. i can do insects..


ummm.. what brand of lights do ya guys use

im making the majority of my skink money (and italy!!) tonight soooooo im very excited

[Tyler]

i dont think i could feed my future BTS a mouse... they are just too cute... id end up setting up another cage for it haha...

i cant feed it anything alive that is fuzzy.. i can do insects..


ummm.. what brand of lights do ya guys use

im making the majority of my skink money (and italy!!) tonight soooooo im very excited

I use a 100 watt incandescent light bulb. Instead of feeding live you can give your bts chicken or cat food for protein.

[reefs2forests]

yea is that better though? feeding prepared better than live?

[Tyler]

yea is that better though? feeding prepared better than live?

I don't think feeding live is any better than feeding prepared. I wouldn't want my skink to mistake a finger for a mouse

[reefs2forests]

so tonight i was at Boo at the Zoo
(an event at the National Zoo in DC - i volunteer there)

and some other volunteers and I went through the reptile house and someone had a BTS that they were holding and talking about and omg sooo adorable and cute. and it was all snuggled up with her. i wanted to hold it but she couldnt let me cuz of everyone there and stuff..

but im just very excited. i talked to the keepers from the repti house the entire day practically and asked him about skinks and such

[Fatal_S]

We also have a Boo at the Zoo at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg. I tried to volunteer this year, but sent in the form a day late -.-' Our zoo has an IJ at the food place, but I've never seen it out. Maybe you could volunteer to do the demos with it? What kind is it?